Assam face Services in Ranji tie from today

Few changes expected in fil XI

By our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI, Jan 4: With an aim to get back into the track Assam will take on Services in their next Ranji trophy match which will begin at Barsapara stadium on Monday. The match is turning to be a crucial one for the host particularly after the side lost their third game against Himachal Pradesh on the same venue badly.

If any one goes with the points table than there shouldn’t be any doubt in any body’s mind that Assam is favourite in this game. The side collected 8 points from three matches and is placed in fourth position. On the other hand Services maged to earn 5 points from four matches.

However if one go through the performance of two sides in this season than it would be difficult to find too much differences. Host is yet to pick up their bowling and batting properly. The team already played three matches in the competition but no batsmen were able to score three figures score in any of the innings. The situation turns worst as captain Dheeraj Jadhav, who was consistent with the bat in the earlier seasons, this year failed to contribute heavily with the bat.. The left handed just maged to score 41 runs in his 6 innings. Bowlers also frustrated the cricket lovers of the state as except Krish Das, no other bowler of the side were able to create any trouble to the opponent batsman in a big way.

 Talking to the media persons after the fil practice session Sath Kumar, the coach of Assam team, today admitted that this game is turning out to be a crucial one for his team as the side needed few points to get back into the track once again. "I admit it’s a crucial game for our team. We have chalked out few plans and hope it will work this time." Interestingly, the team has even changed their dressing room believing that it would bring some good luck.

It is expected that the turf, which will be used in this game, will not same like the previous game and will assist the bowlers. Assam has planned to go with one extra bowler and al possibly Arlen Konwar will be included into the team for the first time in this season. It is also decided that Kul Saikia will be rested from the team and the responsibility of keeping will be entrusted on out station recruit Karthik. Unless there is any last minute change than Gokul Sarma, who are struggling to score runs, might be seated out in this game along with Pritam Das.

Commenting on the team composition for the match against Services Sath said, "We have not decided yet our fil XI. But it is fil that Kul and Pritam will be not in the squad in this game. We will select the fil XI tomorrow morning."

Sath however admitted that this time there would likely be little bit change in the batting order. Dheeraj may go down and Karthik could be promoted to open the innings with Pallab as the team want to try right and left hand combition in the opening partnership.

Meanwhile Sanjeev Mehrotra, the coach of Services, said without any hesitation that the game will produce result." I feel this wicket will produce result and either side can win the game."

Services already played four games in the tourment but two of their matches failed to produce any result as the first innings of either side was not completed because of bad weather. However their batsmen are in good form. Rajat Paliwal and Yashpal singh already hit ton in this season. Yashpal, who turned out for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL, is a very senior player in the circuit and had one century and two half century under his belt this season. The other batsman who could become a threat to Assam is Palikal. The batsman already scored 304 runs in this season and scored an unbeaten century against Tripura.